Stress and Homeostasis

Your body is always working to maintain homeostasis (homeo = the same, stasis = staying) in a constantly changing, stressful environment because your survival depends on it. Life can only exist within a narrow range of conditions – imagine how you would feel without water for several days, or with a 106°+ temperature, skyrocketing blood pressure or plummeting blood sugar. Homeostatic control provides the internal stability necessary for life. Stress disrupts that stability.

Your ability to respond and adapt to stress is therefore a fundamental aspect of the continuous balancing act that is homeostatic control. This control is accomplished through complex feedback loops that communicate every tiny change in your body between your nervous system, brain and endocrine (hormone producing) glands. Your brain assesses and responds to the information provided about your internal state by your nervous and endocrine systems. Your endocrine glands produce exact amounts of hormones in response to instructions from your brain.

These hormones act as the agents of change that tell every cell what to do. Central to your stress response is the feedback loop called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis consisting of your hypothalamus (a regulatory part of your brain), pituitary gland (your master endocrine gland), and adrenal glands (your main glands of stress, producing over 50 hormones affecting nearly every cell in your body and brain). Because homeostasis is essential to life, anytime you get too far from optimal – either too much or too little response to stress, it’s not surprising you feel bad.

Think of the symptoms of a panic attack (pounding heart, rapid pulse, flushing, hyper-vigilant fear) as an extreme over-response to acute stress, and medical shock (low blood pressure, weak pulse, cold skin, dissociated confusion) as an extreme under-response. The symptoms of both are largely due to HPA axis responsiveness and consequent adrenal hormone levels, which influence things like blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar and mental focus. In a chronically stressful life, the internal balancing act of homeostasis gets a lot harder.

For example, prolonged HPA axis over-responsiveness can lead to persistent high blood pressure, high blood sugar, agitation, inability to relax and ensuing conditions like metabolic syndrome. Prolonged HPA axis under-responsiveness can lead to persistent low blood pressure, low blood sugar, low energy, generalized disinterest in life and consequent conditions like adrenal fatigue. If your adrenal glands become fatigued, it may be almost impossible to feel balanced because adrenal hormones play such a key role in your capacity to maintain homeostasis in stressful situations. It’s not difficult to see that balanced regulation of HPA axis function is critical to your ability to adapt to stress in ways that maintain optimal homeostasis and allow you to feel balanced, especially in a stressful world.

What is Herbal Adrenal Support Formula?Herbal Adrenal Support Formula is a unique, liquid herbal formulated by Dr. Wilson to help optimally balance and sustain stress response system function and adrenal hormone levels in times of stress, especially during adrenal fatigue.* This synergistic blend contains four herbs known as natural “adaptogens” for their capacity to enhance stress resilience and protection by helping the body adapt to and cope with stress.* Each of these herbs has demonstrated stress-protective properties, both traditionally over centuries of use and scientifically in research.* The active components of these organically grown or wildcrafted herbs are extracted from the plant roots by a special method that optimally draws them out and preserves them in liquid tincture form.* Herbal Adrenal Support Formula works with Dr. Wilson’s: Adrenal Rebuilder, Adrenal C Formula and Super Adrenal Stress Formula as part of Dr. Wilson’sAdrenal Fatigue Quartet to comprehensively support mental, emotional and physical balance during adrenal fatigue and stress.* [return to top]

What does Herbal Adrenal Support Formula do?The active components of the four adaptogenic herbs in Herbal Adrenal Support Formula are formulated to enhance adrenal hormone activity and promote balanced functioning of the stress response system known as the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.* The adrenal glands are the primary glands driven by stress and also lead recovery from stress.* Low energy following an illness or other stressful event is typically due to lowered output of adrenal hormones such as cortisol that play an important role in regulating many physiological processes. As the adrenals rebalance after the stress, the fatigue and lethargy lessens. Balanced adrenal hormones and HPA axis function promote sound sleep, steady energy, healthy libido, positive mood and clear-headedness, support thyroid function, and help sustain hormonal balance during and after menopause. Together, the carefully selected herbs in Herbal Adrenal Support Formula help promote mental and physical balance during stress, adrenal fatigue and menopause.* [return to top]

How does Herbal Adrenal Support Formula work?Each of the four herbs in Herbal Adrenal Support Formula is an adaptogen.* Adaptogens can be described as nontoxic substances (typically herbs) that have the ability to help the body cope more effectively with stress, use energy more productively and maintain homeostasis without over-stimulating or inhibiting normal body function.* Used for many centuries for their stress resisting effects, eleuthero, ashwagandha and maca have been shown to enhance endurance, mood, mental clarity, libido and the ability to withstand physical and mental stress.* Licorice root has also been shown to enhance adrenal function and help prevent the breakdown of cortisol into its inactive form, cortisone, thus supporting circulating cortisol levels.* Combined, they provide well-rounded, synergistic support that helps promote optimal function of the glands and hormones involved in the stress response, especially of the adrenal glands.* Healthy adrenal function promotes sound sleep and steady energy levels, and helps maintain hormone levels during and after menopause.* These herbs also facilitate optimal function of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis that controls hormones involved in the stress response.* All of these activities help protect and maintain health and homeostasis during stressful times and adrenal fatigue.* [return to top]

Does Herbal Adrenal Support Formula contain natural or synthetic stimulants?Herbal Adrenal Support Formula does not artificially stimulate or drive the body or physiological systems. It contains no caffeine, cola, gotu kola, ephedra, pseudoephedra, Dexedrine, or other agents that falsely stimulate the body while actually depleting it with continued use.* This is a physician-formulated herbal combination designed to naturally invigorate adrenal function during adrenal fatigue, help balance the stress response system and promote an overall sense of well-being in times of stress, adrenal fatigue and menopause.* [return to top]

Does Herbal Adrenal Support Formula contain any hormones or steroids?Herbal Adrenal Support Formula is a vegan tincture formula 100% derived from plants and does not contain any hormones or steroids. [return to top]

What is the difference between Herbal Adrenal Support Formula and Dr. Wilson’s Herbal HPA?Herbal Adrenal Support Formula contains four herbs: eleuthero, ashwagandha, maca and licorice and is designed to be of most benefit to people experiencing adrenal fatigue or other states of stress depletion. Herbal HPA contains three herbs: eleuthero, ashwagandha, maca and is designed to be of most benefit to people experiencing heightened stress response. The licorice enhances adrenal hormone activity, especially cortisol, and salt retention which are important benefits during adrenal fatigue. However, people experiencing adrenal fatigue or menopause who have high blood pressure concerns may prefer to use licorice-free Herbal HPA because licorice can contribute to increased blood pressure.* [return to top]

What kind of stress is Herbal Adrenal Support Formula designed to help?The body has the same response to every type of stress, no matter the cause. Optimal adrenal gland function and balanced stress system response (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal [HPA] axis) are necessary for healthy recovery from trauma or stress, whether that stress is physical, such as injury, illness, overwork, excess exercise, low blood sugar or hormone imbalance; or psychological, such as insufficient finances, relationship problems, emotional trauma or the many other sources of stress in modern life. Herbal Adrenal Support Formula is physician-formulated to support adrenal function and help balance the stress response to facilitate stress recovery.* [return to top]

Who can take Herbal Adrenal Support Formula?Anyone experiencing stress-related fatigue, or feeling the need for extra support after a period of stress, or going through menopause may benefit from Herbal Adrenal Support Formula.* Also, a number of people with occasional difficulty sleeping say they have restful nights after taking it at bedtime; and menopausal women have reported sleeping at night and feeling balanced throughout the day when they take it in the morning and at bedtime.* Taking Herbal Adrenal Support Formula daily before and during an anticipated stressful event such as a long flight, final exams, overwork, long hours, etc. can help support adrenal function throughout the stressful time.* [return to top]

How quickly will Herbal Adrenal Support Formula begin to work?Herbal Adrenal Support Formula is designed to begin acting right away; however, results will vary depending upon the stress level, the overall health of the individual and several other factors.* Some people notice its effects within the first two days, most feel a difference within two weeks.* [return to top]

What is the best way to take Herbal Adrenal Support Formula?Take 10-15 drops in juice or water 2-4 times a day, preferably between meals or on an empty stomach (10-15 drops upon rising and 10-15 before bed; 10 may also be taken at noon and/or mid-afternoon, if desired), or use as directed by your healthcare practitioner. During adrenal fatigue, see how Herbal Adrenal Support Formula is used in Dr. Wilson’s Adrenal Fatigue Quartet®.* Consult a healthcare practitioner knowledgeable in the use of supplements for more personalized directions. [return to top]

When should I take Herbal Adrenal Support Formula?You can take Herbal Adrenal Support Formula any time you are experiencing the effects of stress or adrenal fatigue.* It is best taken on an empty stomach after rising, before meals and before bedtime. However, if you have a sensitive stomach or you experience any upset, take it with meals. [return to top]

How long can I take Herbal Adrenal Support Formula?For optimal results, we recommend taking Herbal Adrenal Support Formula daily for at least two months.* As part of Dr. Wilson’s Adrenal Fatigue Quartet®, this formula is taken for six months to two years, or as long as needed. Historically, people have taken these herbs separately or in combination with other preparations for years without adverse side effects.* One of the most common historical uses of some of these herbs was to promote longevity.* [return to top]

Can I take too much Herbal Adrenal Support Formula?For optimal results, we recommend taking Herbal Adrenal Support Formula as suggested, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner. If you are hypertensive or have borderline high blood pressure and are concerned about taking licorice, you can switch to Herbal HPA, our licorice-free herbal adrenal support supplement. [return to top]

Does Herbal Adrenal Support Formula lose its effectiveness with continued use?All of the herbs used in this formula have been used safely for more than a thousand years. At least three of the herbs used have traditionally been taken to improve longevity and as an invigorating tonic year after year.* [return to top]

Can I take Herbal Adrenal Support Formula with prescription or non-prescription medicines?Some herbs interact with some medications and so it is best to consult a health practitioner who is familiar with herbs about your specific medications. [return to top]

Are there any side effects in taking Herbal Adrenal Support Formula?Although the amount of licorice in this formula is well below the amount typically necessary to cause any change in blood pressure, some people sensitive to licorice have reported an increase in blood pressure when taking this product. If this occurs, switch to Herbal HPA, our licorice-free herbal support formula. As with any dietary supplement or food, if you suspect an adverse reaction, refrain from using the product for a few days. If upon reintroduction of this product you experience any adverse effects, then we suggest you stop and consult a healthcare practitioner who is familiar with herbs. [return to top]

Is the quality of Herbal Adrenal Support Formula reliable?Expertly formulated by a physician, Herbal Adrenal Support Formula is a dietary supplement containing only high quality ingredients and manufactured and tested in accordance with the FDA’s current Good Manufacturing Procedures. [return to top]

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Watch a video on Herbal Adrenal Support Formula® - 2 ounces

Take 10-15 drops in juice or water 2-4 times a day, preferably between meals or on an empty stomach, or use as directed by your healthcare practitioner. For more information see Dr. Wilson’s Program for Adrenal Fatigue.

*Note to people sensitive to alcohol: The herbs in this formula are liquid tinctures which are 18.5% alcohol. This method extracts the highest levels of active plant components for optimal benefit. People who cannot take any alcohol may add the recommended dose to 8 oz. of water and simmer for 10-15 minutes in a pan on low heat to evaporate the alcohol before drinking.

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